With only three weeks to the start of practising, the final touches are being
put to the organisation. And there are a number of overseas competitors
include Alex Tori-Mori from California, who will bring a 600cc Suzuki for the
Senior. Although unmarried, he gives his "spouse's" name as Yamaha R1!

Another foreigner is Bart Crauwels, from Langdorf in Belgium. He will ride an
eight-valve 500cc Paton twin in the Senior Classic, a similar mount to that of
Steve Linsdell. The Italian flavour will also again contain Pat Sefton’s Gilera-4.

Also on the lists is Nigel John from Swansea. He has TT star Paul Owen's 250cc Honda for
the Newcomers' Race, making five entries in that class. As well as competing in
the Southern Irish races on CJ Rentals' 125 Honda, he has been making regular
visits to the European Supermono Championships. Chris Sammons from
Chesterfield joins the ranks for the Junior race on a 600cc Honda. He has
previously lapped at over 107mph.

Local veterans Barry Wood
and Sean Collister will
compete once again. Former double Lightweight Classic winner Wood will ride the
RJP Racing 350cc Honda twin that was to be in the hands of Ian Smith; 1982 Lightweight
runner-up Collister will ride a 125cc Honda in the Ultra Lightweight.

Chester bus driver Pat
Wynne is aiming to continue his remarkable reliability record. Out of 25
races, he has finished in 23, and hopes this year's 250cc Classic Suzuki and
400cc Ultra Lightweight machines will go the distance once again.

Maurice Walker (37), a
blacksmith from Castlewellan, Co. Down, has an unusual pedigree for the Manx.
Besides being Support Race Champion of Ireland, he is a former five-times winner
of the Irish Sidecar Motocross Championship!

The racing Sells family again graces the MGP, with Carolynn having won her 400cc
race at the recent Southern 100. Brother Rob and father Dave will also race, with
Rob a regular front-runner at the Andreas Club's meetings at Jurby. Carolynn
is a standby art director from Liverpool and is backed on 400 and 600cc Hondas
by Martin Bullock.

Another well-known MGP family is represented by Pete Swallow from Holmfirth
in Yorkshire. He has ridden the Manx for 28 years, with 12 replicas and 13
finisher's medals. His best place was runner-up to Dave Smith in the 1989
Lightweight Classic. Brother Bill rode in the pre-TT
Classic but has retired from the MGP after nine wins. Late brother Richard won
five times. Other brother Alec also took part regularly. Before that, their
father Ken Swallow also competed.

Bill 'The Duke' Rice has
not hung up his leathers after all. He finally cracked the 100mph lap on his
RC30 last year and it has obviously spurred him on. Besides the racing, the
jovial giant from Maghaberry looks forward to seeing his mates Wally Kneale, Bob
Taylor and Brian Mateer
do well, and promises to supply the tea and coffee for the Hailwood Centre.

Scott Richardson from Dunstable is one of the real heroes. He lost his left
leg in a crash at Ballaspur in the 2000 TT but is back to the Mountain Course on
a 350cc Honda K4 in the Classic.